Severe cold weather to close Minnesota Zoo

Published January 3, 2014 at 1:52 pm

The Minnesota Zoo will be closed to the public on Monday, Jan. 6, due to forecasted dangerously cold weather, zoo officials announced today.

The zoo’s decision came after Gov. Mark Dayton announced that all of the state’s K-12 public schools will be closed Monday because of the anticipated severe weather conditions. The National Weather Service predicts that most of the state will experience the coldest temperatures in more than a decade on Monday, with lows reaching 30 below zero, and wind chills predicted to reach as low as 50 below zero.

“The safety of our guests is always our first priority,” zoo director Lee Ehmke said. “We are making this decision to protect members and guests as well as our staff and the zoo’s 4,300 animals from the extreme cold temperatures now forecasted.”